Having a visit from a special Assistance Dog and their human client has been an exciting and moving AUUC tradition since 2014. Throughout October, our outreach collection will support paws4people®. On Sunday, Oct. 20, Laura Culp, accompanied by her Service Dog THURM, will tell us about paws4people® and the importance of THURM in her life, made possible by this nonprofit. Laura has worked for the Federal Government for 19 years. THURM is a handsome Golden Retriever who met Laura in 2020 and has been her best friend and constant companion ever since.
The unique paws4prisons®️ Dog Training program involves approximately 100+ inmate trainers who receive intense academic and leadership training themselves, and then teach the Dogs basic and advanced obedience. The inmate trainers live and work with their dogs 24/7 inside two West Virginia correctional centers, and has served as an inmate rehabilitation program. As they work with the dogs, the inmate trainers’ lives are changed, and many move forward on a more positive and productive path.
At about one year old, each Dog chooses their Client through a “Bump” process. paws4people®️ specializes in training customized Assistance Dogs for two general groups: children, adolescents, and adults with physical, neurological, psychiatric, and/or emotional disabilities; and Veterans and Service Members with Chronic/Complex-PTSD and other service-related injuries. 30-40 Assistance Dogs are placed each year at no cost to the recipients.
Visit https://www.paws4people.org/
Donations may be made online through the AUUC website anytime during October. Click Donate, then check “Monthly Outreach Offerings”. Donations of cash and checks may be placed in the collection basket during the Sunday service. Checks payable to AUUC with a note ‘outreach’ in memo line may be mailed.
Thank you from the Social Justice Committee, sponsor of AUUC Outreach Collections